Migration is the essence of the survival of some animal species. In search of a new home, some animals will travel the world to find the most suitable conditions for their survival.
Some travel by land, others by flying, while some animals do it by swimming. Animals that migrate are some of the most resourceful animals in the world.
Animals that migrate are different to nomadic animals because migrants often have homes that they return to yearly while nomadic animals wander endlessly without a home to return to.
Examples of Animals that Migrate (List)
These are some of the most fascinating animals that migrate.
1. Arctic Terns
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | 15 in |
| Color | White |
| Habitat | Coastal regions |
The arctic tern is one of the most fascinating migratory species on earth. In a single year, it will migrate from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back, covering up to 12.000 miles in one single migratory year. And these numbers are just the estimates – some birds might fly up to 40.000 miles in one year!
2. Atlantic Salmon
| Scientific Name | Salmo salar |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Size | 30 in |
| Color | Gray |
| Habitat | Ocean, freshwater bodies |
Some salmon of this species will migrate to freshwater bodies and remain there. Others will migrate in oceans. When they migrate, the salmon will look for appropriate areas where they can settle – salinity is one of the biggest issues for them when they migrate.
3. Bar-Tailed Godwits
| Scientific Name | Limosa lapponica |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | 31 in |
| Color | Orange, black, white |
| Habitat | Coasts, estuaries |
In what is one of the longest non-stop trips by any migrating animal, the bar-tailed godwit will travel from Alaska to New Zealand. This long trip is over 18.000 miles long, so it takes a lot of strength and determination for this interesting bird to reach its end destination.
4. Bats
| Scientific Name | Chiroptera |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 6 in |
| Color | Black |
| Habitat | Caves, various |
Did you know that even bats migrate from time to time? They move between summer and winter habitats as they prefer warmer climates. However, their migrations are relatively short, especially when compared to bird migrations. At most, bats will migrate for up to 1200 miles in one migrating season.
5. Canada Geese
| Scientific Name | Branta canadensis |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | 43 in |
| Color | Gray, white, black |
| Habitat | Near freshwater sources |
Highly aggressive in nature, the Canada goose knows how to protect its territory. But it’s also good at finding the right habitats to survive, so they will often migrate. They establish breeding colonies and they will migrate to and from these when they are breeding.
6. Crabs
| Scientific Name | Brachyura |
| Classification | Malacostraca |
| Size | Up to 13ft (leg span) |
| Color | Gray, red |
| Habitat | Oceans, beaches |
Crabs are also migratory animals. Most crabs migrate when they release their larvae, as they search for the best conditions possible for breeding. This is necessary for them if they want to produce the highest quality larvae possible.
7. Gray Whales
| Scientific Name | Eschrichtius robustus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 16 ft |
| Color | Gray |
| Habitat | Ocean |
The gray whale is one of the many whale species that migrate. While not all specimens of this species will move, most of them will migrate between Alaska and Russia and to Baja California in search of better living conditions.
8. Humpback Whales
| Scientific Name | Megaptera novaeangliae |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 52 ft |
| Color | Gray |
| Habitat | Oceans |
The humpback whale will migrate to up to 16.000 miles each year in search of better living conditions. They prefer to feed in polar waters, but they will move to warmer water bodies when they are breeding or about to give birth.
9. Monarch Butterflies
| Scientific Name | Danaus plexippus |
| Classification | Insect |
| Size | 4 in |
| Color | Orange-black |
| Habitat | Forests, grasslands |
In the autumn, the monarch butterfly will leave its home and migrate in search of warmer weather. During that season, it will migrate from the northern states in the United States and southern Canada to southern US states such as Florida.
10. North Atlantic Right Whales
| Scientific Name | Eubalaena glacialis |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 52 ft |
| Color | Gray |
| Habitat | North Atlantic |
Because North Atlantic right whales are often hunted for their fish oil, they are one of the most endangered species in the world. They are also heavily dependent on their migrations, as they will migrate from their feeding grounds in the Labrador Sea and the coasts of Georgia and Florida.
11. Reindeer
| Scientific Name | Rangifer tarandus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 5ft |
| Color | Gray-black |
| Habitat | Forests |
The reindeer is another fascinating animal that migrates. Not all reindeer will migrate – some are also sedentary animals. Most of the migrations are seasonal. The Siberian tundra reindeer are the largest reindeer that migrate, and they are also the most populous – up to an estimated 1 million of these animals exist.
12. Sea Turtles
| Scientific Name | Cheloinoidea |
| Classification | Reptile |
| Size | 4 ft |
| Color | Brown |
| Habitat | Ocean |
Sea turtles will mostly migrate when they breed. This might include long-distance migrations before they reach their spawning areas. They have excellent navigational skills and they will use several cues from their environment to find their way when they migrate, such as orientation using light.
13. Sharks
| Scientific Name | Selachimorpha |
| Classification | Chondrichthyes |
| Size | Up to 40ft |
| Color | Gray |
| Habitat | Ocean |
Lastly, we need to mention sharks. Many shark species will migrate from territory to territory, looking for newly suitable areas to live in. One of the main driving factors for their migration is their search for food, as they look for new food sources.
14. Snow Geese
| Scientific Name | Anser caerulescens |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | 31 in |
| Color | White, black |
| Habitat | Various |
The snow goose is a goose species endemic to North America. You’ll find both white and black goose, and some people also call them blue goose. They migrate from late May to mid-August and they will migrate from colder to warmer climates and vice-versa.
15. Wildebeest
| Scientific Name | Connochaetes |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 5ft |
| Color | Brown |
| Habitat | Open woodlands |
Not all wildebeest species are migratory, but many of them are. Black and blue wildebeest will mostly migrate in search of better living conditions. The most important driving factor for their migrations is the food – they need to look for new sources of food constantly to survive, so they will often move around.
16. Zebra
| Scientific Name | Hippotigris |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 5 ft |
| Color | Black and white |
| Habitat | Savannas, grasslands |
The zebras are heavily dependent on water. They are constantly moving around to find the best possible areas where they get enough of it. That isn’t always easy for them, as migrating might mean moving into habitats with new and more potent predators. They’re hard to catch though.
Conclusion
Animals that migrate are some of the most adaptable animals in the world. Some will travel seasonally and over shorter distances, others will travel thousands of miles in search of a new home.
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